Assistant Teacher
Opening for the 2020-2021 school year
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Experience with children/adolescents in a special education setting preferred
- Ability to develop an understanding of special needs population and therapeutic milieu
- Proven interpersonal skills
- Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
- Ability to maintain professionalism and composure in stressful situations
- Strong communication skills
Schedule:
- 10 months/full time (40 hours)
- Salary and benefits determined by the Executive Director
Responsibilities:
- Provide in-class support to teachers and students
- Demonstrate flexibility and the ability to improvise when necessary
- Help maintain a clean and organized teaching environment
- Maintain structure of program
- Assist with homeroom and academic classes when needed; provide coverage, when needed
- Assist teachers with lesson planning, grading, or prep work, as requested
- With guidance from a classroom teacher and at times independently, work with students on one-to-one basis or in small groups
- With the support of the classroom teacher, become familiar with students’ goals as defined in the IEP
- Become familiar with standard educational accommodations and commonly used therapeutic supports, such as O.T. strategies
- Respond to student behaviors in the classroom and throughout the milieu by utilizing Gifford behavioral systems
- Facilitate and lead students during transitions, lunch, electives and group activities
- Provide one-on-one support to students in or outside the classroom in order to meet their needs
- Consistently uphold the structures of the school by enforcing rules and regulations
- Utilizing Safety Care techniques, help maintain community safety
- Participate in Program
team meetings and be an active member of the team
- Communicate serious incidents and other pertinent matters to program leaders and/or administration in a timely and effective manner
- Provide input into IEP and progress reporting as requested
- Participate actively in training and supervision
- Integrate information about students’ interests and abilities into the development of clubs and Group Activity to provide new learning opportunities for students; help lead those clubs and group activity
- Participate in and develop cross-school initiatives and events
- Help with cross-school support/coverage
- Manage effective and efficient Counseling Area
- Assist with facilitating off campus school trips
- Attend monthly administrator led in-service training
- Develop positive relationships with families and serve as case monitor for assigned students. Make regular, weekly contact and also contact when necessary; communicate information to the team
- Remain up to date (daily checks) with all internal email and voicemail messages
- Participate in a few night meetings
- Help maintain a safe, positive work and learning environment for all by adhering to the principles of conduct described in Gifford’s policy manuals and by treating all Gifford community members with fairness and respect
- Demonstrate respect for diversity among our staff and student body and promote an atmosphere which values this diversity
- Understand and represent Gifford’s culture and mission to students, families and others
- Within the context of your position at Gifford and as the job evolves, be open to new ideas, opportunities and responsibilities assigned by your supervisor and/or the Executive Director
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to participate in outdoor physical activities to include kneeling, stooping and lifting up to 25 pounds
Please submit a cover letter and resume to:
Hiring Manager
The Gifford School
177 Boston Post Road
Weston, MA 02493
T: 781-899-9500
E: hiring@gifford.org
F: 781-899-4515